With all of the incredibly intriguing and historic matchups spread across the country this week, it’s hard not to be envious in New York.
Michigan-Ohio State, Clemson-South Carolina, Florida-Florida State, USC-UCLA, Alabama-Auburn … there are no rivalries like that in New York, mostly because there’s no team that New York can even call its own (sorry Syracuse, but there are seven states I can drive to from Manhattan quicker than your campus).
But of all the rivalry games this week, none stands out like the Iron Bowl.
For No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Auburn — teams that first played in 1893 — this may be the biggest game in the history of their in-state rivalry. The winner of this game has won the last four national championships and this is the first time both teams are ranked in the top four.
It is a game that will be defined by who is best at what they do best, with Alabama’s top-ranked SEC rushing defense trying to slow the Tigers’ No. 2 rushing attack in the nation.
No offense has made the Tide’s defense appear even remotely vulnerable this season except for Texas A&M, and Auburn does not have the aerial attack to exploit Alabama’s secondary. Excluding the Aggies, Alabama has allowed six points per game.
Like most great matchups, this one will fail to live up to the hype. Roll with the Tide (-10½).
TEXAS (-4½) over Texas Tech: The Red Raiders’ line of credit is all used up here, following four straight losses by an average of nearly 20 points.
Arkansas (+25) over LSU: The Hogs’ first-ever winless SEC season is basically assured, but they’ll catch the Tigers on a short week, still coming down from their best win of the season.
Duke (+5) over UNC: The Blue Devils are one win away from the ACC title game — in football! Yup, they’ve got uniforms and everything. It’s really great!
MICHIGAN ST (-14½) over Minnesota: Even if the Spartans are looking ahead to their Big Ten championship game with Ohio State, their fourth-ranked defense will smother Minnesota’s offense, which was held without an offensive point last week against Wisconsin.
Rutgers (-3) over UCONN: The Big Ten should rescind its invitation if the Scarlet Knights can’t beat one of the worst teams in the nation by more than a field goal.
MICHIGAN (+14½) over Ohio St.: Based on talent, competency and consistency, this game shouldn’t be close. But the biggest rivals battling in front of more than 100,000 people in the Big House can make a lot of things that shouldn’t happen, happen.
GEORGIA TECH (+3½) over Georgia: No Aaron Murray? No faith.
WISCONSIN (-24) over Penn St.: The Badgers might be one of the five best teams in the country right now.
Bc (-2) over SYRACUSE: Eagles running back Andre Williams could become a legitimate Heisman candidate if Jameis Winston is no longer in contention. The senior is averaging 188.5 yards per game with 16 touchdowns, is 462 yards ahead of the second-highest rusher in the nation and his 2,073 yards is seventh-best all-time at this point in the season.
Clemson (+5) over S. CAROLINA: It’s Tahj Boyd’s last chance to beat the Gamecocks, with the Tigers having lost the past four meetings. He may still fall short, but he’ll put his team in position to win.
STANFORD (-14) over Notre Dame: At home, the Cardinal still prove worthy of their No. 8 ranking, winning by an average of 17 points, with victories over Oregon, Arizona State and UCLA.
Texas A&M (+4½) over MISSOURI: Having watched these teams several times this season, there isn’t a whole lot to like about the Aggies here. But there’s this unshakable feeling Johnny Manziel cannot play two terrible games in a row. He just can’t.
USC (-3½) over Ucla: If only the Trojans could fire Lane Kiffin every year. USC is 6-1 since replacing him with interim coach Ed Orgeron.
ARIZONA ST. (-12) over Arizona: The Sun Devils will roll to the Pac-12 title game in style.
BEST BETS: Boston College, Duke, USC
Record: 67-79-4
Best Bets: 10-19-1